I read everywhere that switching to a plant-based diet has numerous health benefits, especially from Dr Greger.
I’m wondering to which extent these benefits are impaired by having just one animal-based meal a week, typically because of a Sunday gathering with family members who are more reluctant to do the switch.
Is it like smoking one cigarette a day, which has suprisingly disproportionate negative effects, or can we assume that one meat-based meal a week roughly accounts for 1/21 of the impact (there’s about 21 meals in a week)?
Thanks
Your concern is totally misplaced, vegan meals can be less healthy than non vegan meals and vice versa. Deep fried falafels in white bread pita with salad and dressing isn’t healthier than eating chicken filet and broccoli for instance.
Also Dr Gregor shouldn’t be your only source. Check this video out
Plant based diet is NOT healthy. We humans don’t have a gastrointestinal system built for plant based food only, but that and meat too. Having a single non vegan meal a week (best fish) and once a month a red meat meal would ensure you don’t need to take any supplements and that version is the best, healthiest way of eating.
More often than not, people switching from omnivore to plant based are actually making their health worse, because for many people, meat, dairy, and eggs are some of the least processed foods they consume. Then they switch to plant based, swap out whole foods for ultra processed alternatives, and seriously under-consume protein, and over consume calories. We’ve all seen the Oreo vegans…
If following plant based for moral reasons, great. I can’t argue that. If your primary goal is health, plant based/vegan is not the best option.
So, for that reason, adding in non-vegan meals, depending on what those meals are, of course, will likely provide some benefit, and very little , if any detrimental effects.
I’m vegetarian and sometimes vegan. I eat fish once or twice a week. A tiny portion. It can be constipating. Other than that no problem. All my bloodwork is fine. I find vegan diet makes my stomach sensitive. So I eat what I crave in small amounts. I never want a lot of meat at a time.